Minister of Youth and Sports, Dito Ariotedjo, seized the opportunity at the global sports initiative event ‘Securing the Legacy: Debriefing from Paris 2024 for Future Major Sporting Events Marking’ at the United Nations Headquarters in New York to showcase pencak silat as a significant cultural heritage of Indonesia. He emphasized that pencak silat transcends mere martial arts, embodying essential values such as discipline, resilience, and peace. Acknowledged by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, pencak silat not only equips practitioners with self-defense skills but also promotes harmony and peace within society.
Minister Dito reiterated Indonesia’s stance on pencak silat as a symbol of global resilience and its efforts to raise international awareness, including aspiring for its inclusion in the Olympics. He believes that sports, exemplified by pencak silat, uphold principles of security resilience, contributing to nation-building, social cohesion, and conflict resolution. Indonesia’s support for the UN Office for Combating Terrorism’s Global Sports Programme underscores its commitment to utilizing both traditional and modern sports to empower youth and bolster resilience.
The significance of robust security infrastructure and preparedness for major sporting events, as demonstrated during the 2024 Paris Olympics, was a focal point of Minister Dito’s address. He underscored the necessity of innovative security frameworks, intelligence sharing, and global partnerships to effectively address security challenges. Indonesia is actively enhancing public-private collaboration, elevating sports safety standards, and fostering international cooperation to combat violent extremism through sports.
President Prabowo Subianto’s vision to elevate pencak silat to Olympic status received mention, with a plea for widespread support. Preserving pencak silat as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s cultural heritage and advocating for its Olympic recognition were highlighted. These efforts align with Indonesia’s commitment to fostering peace and unity through sports collaboration. Indonesia’s unwavering dedication to promoting sports as a vehicle for peace and resilience aligns with a shared global goal of cultivating a secure and inclusive sports environment worldwide.
